Petitioners demand Columbia Sportswear remove PFAS

By Sujatha Bergen | NRDC | July 8, 2022

Read the full article by Sujatha Bergen (NRDC)

“Today, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund (USPIRG Education Fund) delivered 48,000 petition signatures to Columbia Sportswear CEO, calling for the phase out of toxic PFAS from the company’s supply chain. 

PFAS are a class of more than 12,000 toxic chemicals, known for their extensive pollution of the nation’s drinking water sources, accumulation in wildlife and threat to public health.  Despite their threat, PFAS are used extensively in the outdoor apparel industry – in coatings and membranes –  to make clothes water and stain resistant.

While several outdoor apparel companies based in the United States and Europe – including Patagonia, L.L. Bean and Jack Wolfskin have either already eliminated or committed to a time-bound phase out of the chemicals, Columbia Sportswear has yet to take similar action."

 

This content provided by the PFAS Project.

Topics:

• ChemicalsPFAS
• ProductsClothing
• ProductsOutdoor gear
• ProductsShoes
• ProductsTextiles
• SourcesManufacturing facilities
• Environment
• Wildlife
• ImpactDrinking water
• ImpactDrinking waterPrivate wells
• Affected community
• Health
• PFAS Uses
• Disposal